Automatic air-valve



(N o Model.)

H. L. IDE.

AUTOMATIC `AI'R VALVE.

Patented Febf, 1887.

Inventor HWLCZQ Witnesses:

N. Pzrsns Pnobumogmpher. wamingmn. u cA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. IDE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357.320, dated February8, 1887. Application lilcd October 23, 1886. Serial No. 217,068. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HARRY L. IDE, of

Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, haveinventedcertain new and yuseful Improvements in Automatic Air- Valves;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and-exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simplified and improvedconstruction in automatic air-valves for steam-radiators; and itconsists in the devices substantially as hereinafter set forth, andpointed out in the appended claims.

Figure l of the drawings shows my improved air-valve in4 centralvertical section. Fig. 2 shows a modification in similar section; andFig. 3 is a further modification of the screw, in which Fig. 4 is a topview.

First describing` Fig. 1, A is the head, having the upwardly-openchamber A', from which descends the passage a, and having also a lateralprojection, A2, which screws into vva pipe, B, of the radiator, and hasa passage, c, that gives communication from the interior of the radiatorto the chamber A.

, B is a brass tube fastened to the top of the head A and forming anupward extension of the chamber A. f

C is an iron tube within and smaller tha the exterior of brass tube Band secured to the head A. To the upper end of the outer or brass tube,B, is secured a diaphragm, D, a little above the upper end of the irontube B, and having a passage, d, in line with the passage c of saidtube.

E is a screw,having. its shank threaded into the upper end of the tubeGand passing loosely through the opening d of the diaphragm. The head eof said screw is preferably above, but

` it may be within the opening d, and is adapted to close said openingwhen brought into contact with its walls or with the top of thediaphragm. Thescrew has a hole, e', through it, which givescommunication between the space above the diaphragm and the passage cofthe tube C. F is a removable cap, covering or inclosin a space abovethe diaphragm.

The device operates automatically by means of the unequal expansion andcontraction of the brass and iron tubes underV change of temperature,resulting from the presence or absence of steam or hot air in thechamber A.

The screw-head e, which forms a valve to the'passage d, is vverticallyadjustable as to its position by means of its thread, which enters thetube C, and is provided with a crossslit in its upper end to receive ascrewdriver, or is otherwise adapted to be turned when the cap Fis'removed. To set the valve e in working position,itmaybescrewed downtirmlyuponits seat when the tubes B and O are heated by the steam of theradiator. Then, when the radiator and the air-valve are cool, the brasstube B will shorten to a greater extent than the iron tube O, and thescrew-head e will be supported clear of the diaphragm D.

'lhe valve apparatus being applied to a radiatonpipe in the usuallposition, when steam is let on the air is expelled from the radiatorthrough the passage a into the chamber A and asccnds through the hole d,around the screw-valve E, into the space within the cap Rand thencedescends through the passage e in the screw and through the iron pipe O,whence it escapes by the passage a through the bottom of the head A.When the air has been expelled and the steam follows into the chamber Aand fills the space between the tubes B and C, both the latterareheated; but by reason of the greater expansion of the brass tube Bthe diaphragm D is lifted into contact with the screw-head e, and theescape of the steam is cut 01T.

As in other automatic air-valves for similar use, there will' commonlybe an escape of a little steam or condense-water before the tubes areheated and the valve is closed. rlhis may be conducted away by a pipeattached to the lower opening, a, of the head A, and leading to thebasement of the building or elsewhere. As this will not always bepracticable, I have provided a cup, G, which is screw-threaded upon. orinto the lower end of the vhead A, where the pipe would otherwise beattached, and has a passage, g, giving communication from thedischarge-passage a of the head to the chamber of the cup. Through thispassage g the small quantity of condense-water which escapes will beconveyed to the cup,

whence it will evaporate without doing harm as water.

It will be observed that the evaporatingcup provided with anexternallythreaded shank may be used alternatively with the drippipe inconnection with the same air-valve device, or, in other words, that anair-Valve adapted for one of these is also and equally adapted for theother.

Fig. 2 is intended to show a modification by which the outer tube may beof iron and the innerone of brass. In this case the diaphragm D issupposed to be secured to the outer tube, and thelongitudinally-apertured screw E is arranged to close upward against thediaphragm. Th, hole d through the diaphragm is used in this caseexclusively to enable the valve E to be reached and adjusted by means ofa screw-driver, (if said screw is formed as shown in Fig. 2,) or toallow passage for a squared or slotted projection, ci', on the screw, ifconstructed as shown in Fig. 3. The projection e'l may entirelyT ll thepassage d or not, as preferred, the cap F being present to prevent theescape of steam or to conceal the screw and prevent its being meddledwith, as the case may be.

Fig. 5 shows the diaphragm hollowed on its under surface only, andconstructed to let the cap down lower than in the preceding figures.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with twounequallyexpansible tubes, one within the other, of a chambered head, towhich both tubes are fixed, said head having a passage leading from' theradiator to the interior of theouter tube, and

an escape-passage leading from the inner tube,

a diaphragm supported by the outer tube, and a longitndinally-apertnredscrew threaded to the upper end of the inner tube, substantially asdescribed. 4

2. The combination, with two unequallyexpansible tubes, one within theother, of a chambered head, to which both tubes are fixed,

said head having a passage leading from the radiator to the interior ofthe outer tube, and an escape-passage leading from the inner tube, adiaphragm secured to the outer tube and provided with an aperture, alongitudinallyapertured screw threaded into the inner tube and tted toclose the aperture of the diaphragm, and a removable cap covering the'aperture of the diaphragm, substantially as described.

8. Thecombination, withachambered head, provided with a passage by whichits chamber may communicate with the interior of a steamradiator andalso with an outlet-passage, of a brass tube forming an extension ofsaidchamber, an iron tube within the brass one having its interior incommunication with the outlet of said head, a diaphragm supported by thebrass tube above the iron one and provided with an aperture over that ofthe iron tube, a longitudinally-pierced screw passing loosely throughthe aperture of the diaphragm into the inner tube and provided with ahead adapted to close the aperture of the diaphragm, and a cap inclosinga space above the diaphragm, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with an automatic airvalve, comprising a chamberedhead, A, having a discharge-passage, a. and unequally-expansive outerand inner tubes communicating with each other by valved passage, and oneof them communicating with said discharge-pas sage a, of a drip-cup, G,fitted to the bottom of the head and provided with a passage, g, wherebythe discharge-passage ofthe head may deliver into the cup, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY Ii. IDE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. GRoss, EDWARD BOGART.

